Young athletes compete in the YMCA’s 13th Annual Kids Triathlon

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Local kids swam, biked and ran to the finish line Saturday in the 13th Annual Kids Triathlon. The yearly event is hosted by the Wilmington Family YMCA.

Organizers said there were 138 kids who competed this year. They said participation was slightly down from last year. But for those who did make it to the triathlon it was just a good time to do something they enjoy.

Leighton Jolly, a triathlon participant, said his favorite part of the competition is the swimming.

“I like the water and my mom and dad say that I was born for the ocean and I was born for the water and I just want to be like that,” said Jolly.

Leighton’s dad Thane Boysen ran alongside Leighton’s younger brother. Boysen said triathlons are a unique athletic activity.

“The swimming, the biking and the running it’s not just something that everybody else does. It’s not just baseball, football, lacrosse it’s something different. They enjoy that fact and they watch me do it so they want to be like dad,” said Boysen.

At the end of the races every kid received a medal for participation but the top kids in each age group were announced as they took the podium.